Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero

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All Rise...

Judge David Johnson still has a pit in his stomach, when viewing these 9-11 releases.

The Charge

"It's what makes me feel we're not fools to believe in God."

The Case

Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero is a PBS Frontline documentary
that aired in 2002, re-issued for the tenth anniversary of 9-11.

It's sort of an odd production, actually. As it was no doubt filmed not long
after the attacks, the emotions are still extraordinarily raw. (Who am I
kidding? When they flashed those still shots of the WTC jumpers I had to look
away; those are images I will never be comfortable with.)

For nearly two hours, the Frontline cameras turn their attention to
an array of people affected by the attacks: firefighters, family members, police
officers, witnesses, security guards, and a hefty selection of religious figures
from various faiths—Jews, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims. In the
interviews, some clergy offer their personal theodicy, attempting to unravel
some of the deeper questions about evil and God's purpose.

Mainly, Faith and Doubt is a venting session, people from different
paths in life sitting in front of a camera and letting it all out. While it may
be therapeutic for those involved, it was gut-wrenching for me. Ten years
removed, these heartfelt confessions still hit me where it counts.

So don't go into this expecting a scholarly examination of the foundations
of evil or an answer to the age-old question about why God lets bad things
happen to good people. That's not what Faith and Doubt is concerned with.
It simply gives voice to those directly affected by this abject horror. (Though
that didn't prevent a couple of out-of-place shots at the Christian faith, but
whatever.)